why do people use the term "Real Names". I'm not trying to start drama. I'm genuinely curious. All names were 'made up' at some point in time and isn't any name a person gives their child real, as in it exists and is not imaginary.

February 13th, 2013, 01:57 PM

milliemm

I don't know. My mum uses the term "proper names" which I suppose is the same as "real names", maybe it's a generation thing? I honestly don't know, but it does annoy me also, i think it's a shame if a child overhears their name not being called "real" or "proper", imagine what that would do to their self-confidence!

February 13th, 2013, 02:17 PM

scarletrune

Real names have a history of being used as names and have an etymology. Made up names do not. There is no meaning in the name Jayden. It's made up, it has no meaning.

Putting a few of your favorite sounds together doesn't make a name a name. It makes it a few sounds put together that you call your child.

February 13th, 2013, 03:43 PM

mei_mei

Names were not 'made up', at least not many of them. They came from something before them and developed naturally over time. They are from specific language elements that have specific meanings.

Made up names: Fiona. Written as a character in the 1700s I think? So fairly recently. However, it's a very logical feminization of Fionn, and it has had plenty of usage since.

Lots of Shakespeare names. Again, he made up names for characters. However, he did so using existing name elements, not random sounds, so they can be said to have a meaning. And they have, once again, had lots of usage since.

Kaylee, Jaycelee, Jailyn, they are really just sounds. No history, no meaning. I suppose there are people who like that in a name.

And despite all of this, I wouldn't use the phrases 'real name' or 'not a real name'. It sounds a bit condescending when obviously Paelynn is someone's name, even if it's devoid of entymological history. ;)

February 13th, 2013, 05:46 PM

renrose

Quote:

Originally Posted by mei_mei

Kaylee, Jaycelee, Jailyn, they are really just sounds. No history, no meaning. I suppose there are people who like that in a name.

Kayleigh is an Anglicism of the Scots Gaelic word Ceilidh (pronounced the same) I believe :)

February 13th, 2013, 07:27 PM

daisy451

Kayleigh a combination of two trendy sounds into a two-syllable, ends-in-lee format. Although it may sound like other names or words, it doesn't really have much of an etymology beyond that. I don't like the term "real names" either, but I do understand why people use it. I have to reject your claim that "all names were made up at some point." In reality, names evolved over time from earlier, similar forms through translation and changing cultural and linguistic practices. Some names have histories that can be traced hundreds or even thousands of years in the past, occasionally even to some of the earliest forms of written language. I find this history beautiful and fascinating. Isis, for example, can be traced back 4500 years, and probably existed in some form even further back than that. It's evolved over time to become what it is- it certainly wasn't Isis, I-S-I-S, in its earliest stage. I would love having a name that had that kind of history, knowing that my name has existed almost as far back as we can accurately trace language. If I sat down and said, "hey, Bree is a nice sound, and Lynn is a nice sound, I'll name my daughter Breelynn," it wouldn't have the same kind of depth that Isis has, in my opinion. No name I can ever come up with will equal 4500+ years of history.

February 13th, 2013, 07:44 PM

everwaiteing

Yes, all names are real. I think the term "real name' is used to convey "established name."

February 13th, 2013, 08:06 PM

mclola

'established name' sounds so much better to me. And yes even names that have a long history and traceable Etymology can be considered 'made up'. The very first name ever, someone had to come up with that, even if they just took them from words that meant something. I usually prefer established names, as most modern trendy names sound silly to me, but I have also heard 'made up' names that sound very pretty to me.
and let me tell you, it is not fun hearing that your name isn't real. My name is Lorelei which was very rare when I was growing up. I either heard
"That is so beautiful"
"Well that's....different"
"That isn't even a real name. were your parents dumb"

February 13th, 2013, 08:17 PM

ali_o

I think "real names" are names that have a history of being used as names, it also has something to do with spelling. I have a friend that wants to name her baby, Lytle. What the hell is that? There are names that I just don't like (Reuben, Bartholomew, Rebecca, Danielle, etc.) and there are just stupid "names" (Neaveah, Lytle, etc.)

February 13th, 2013, 08:33 PM

indianruby

I agree that 'established name' is a more accurate title. Mclola, I'm sorry people were rude to you about your name growing up. They were the idiots, though, because Lorelei has quite an established history as a name. It's a beautiful name and I even like the myth behind it. The MarilynMonroe character doesn't hurt either.